Poisoning from metals and industrial compounds are also possible causes.Ĭertain medications, such as cancer treatment drugs, are known to cause numbness and tingling in the hands. Diabetes, alcoholism, and old age are common known causes of neuropathy. There may or may not be pain and the numbness is often constant. The pattern of numbness is not usually that of one nerve, but instead may be generalized, like the pattern of a glove. If the symptoms are more diffuse, that is, in the hands and forearms (and in the legs and feet), the cause may be a condition called “peripheral neuropathy”. ![]() Other diseases can affect the nerves in the upper limb, causing numbness, tingling, burning. Multiple sclerosis, stroke, and other disorders of the brain and spinal cord may sometimes cause numbness in the forearm and hand. Numbness and tingling can be caused by diseases of the central nervous system. When a nerve suffers from pressure at one level, it may be more susceptible to problems from pressure at another level. For example, a nerve may be compressed in the neck, and then again further down the arm, for example at the wrist. Sometimes, a nerve may suffer from pressure at more than one area. The pattern or zone of the numbness is often very distinct for each nerve root affected. Decreased reflexes in the arm and forearm may also result from pressure on certain specific nerves in the neck. Weakness and/or wasting of muscles supplied by that nerve may be found. Diseases, infections, tumors, blood vessels abnormalities, and other conditions of the spinal cord itself, in the neck, can cause pressure on the cord, which may result in numbness, tingling, or aching in the arm, forearm or hand. Arthritis may cause bone spurs or narrowing of the spinal canal, causing pressure on nerves, or degenerating discs may press directly on the nerves at the spinal column or as they leave the spinal column and pass to the upper limbs. Pressure on nerves in the neck (C6-T1) can be caused by numerous conditions. Nerves in the hands and forearm have their roots in the neck. Compression neuropathies may require surgery to release pressure on the nerve(s) to get relief. If the median nerve (see Figure 1) is compressed at or just below the elbow, numbness is felt not only in the same area as in CTS but also over the palm at the base of the thumb. Pressure on the radial nerve (see Figure 1) in the forearm or above the wrist can cause numbness over the back of the thumb, the index finger, and the web between these two digits. Ulnar nerve compression at the elbow causes not only the numbness noted above, but also numbness on the back of the ulnar side of the hand. Ulnar nerve compression at the wrist causes numbness and tingling of the little finger, part of the ring finger, and the little finger side (ulnar side) of the palm. The pressure may come from injury, thickened muscles, bands of connective tissue, enlarged blood vessels, ganglion cysts, or arthritic spurs. Also, the muscles that are controlled by the compressed nerve may exhibit weakness, wasting, or twitching. ![]() Local pressure on a nerve (“compression neuropathy”) causes numbness in distinct patterns that follow the area supplied by that nerve (see diagrams). These symptoms can be caused by many other conditions. Most of the lay public and some of the medical community are not aware of other causes, so numbness, tingling and pain may be mistakenly thought to be coming from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Numbness and tingling? It may not be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).Īlthough carpal tunnel syndrome is common, it is not the only cause of numbness, tingling, and pain in the forearm and hand. ![]() ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |